LAHORE, Sept 21: A thought-provoking seminar on Punjabi poet Syed Waris Shah was held at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture on Saturday.

The seminar which was organised by PILAC in collaboration with the Punjabi Adabi Board discussed Syed Waris Shah’s poetic collection Heer and the character of Heer as a woman who strived against social injustice and different institutions.

Punjabi scholar Mushtaq Soofi presided over the seminar.

Speaking on the occasion, Soofi explored different aspects of Heer. He said equality of human beings had been a major issue with societies.

“The difference between man and woman is of just body physique. There are many things which a man can do but not a woman. Similarly there are other things which can only be done by a man and not a woman such as the process of pregnancy. But many feminists don’t accept this point of view.” He said Heer was not against men but against social injustice.

He said the feminists must understand the fact that the difference between man and woman is something of power and body physique and nothing else but the question arises societies from time immemorial has ever accepted equality of human beings?

Prof Nabila Rehman from Punjab University said in the West writers went through an awakening on women rights in the 18th century but much earlier to this in the 15th century the poets in Punjab had realised that and started expressing their thoughts through their poetry such as Shah Husain. She said Heer was a rebellion against social injustice and institutions. Waris Shah’s poetry is symbolic. Through Heer he has portrayed a woman who is fighting against social injustice.

Punjabi poetess Nasreen Anjum Bhatti said had Heer been written by a woman it would have been viewed differently but it had been written by a male poet. She said Heer was a symbolic character through which many social institutions were unveiled.

Riaz Ahmed Shad from Sargodha said Punjabi poetry had always been a symbol of love, peace and faithfulness and integrity, be it Baba Farid, Shah Husain or Waris Shah. He drew comparison between Shah Husain and Shakespeare.

PILAC Director-General Khalid Mehmood Qazi said saints and Sufi poets spread peace and tolerance in society. But people at large and especially young generation had not been properly conveyed their message “that is why now more guns are seen in their hands than flutes.”

He said in order to make young generation aware of these poets and saints PILAC started special classes on these poets such as a class of ‘Heer Shanasi’ was being held and another class on Baba Bulleh Shah would be commenced in near future.